At the beginning of the twentieth century, Mexico is torn apart by a civil war that war effects all aspects of society, including the wealthy. Emilia Sauri is the daughter of a Mayan herbalist and a Spanish mother. She loves her childhood friend, Daniel Cuenca. As Emilia studies to become a physician and turns into a political rebel, Daniel runs off to fight, joining whomever he thinks makes the best leader of the month. He constantly returns home when his current favorite leader fails to live up to his expectations. At home, Daniel makes passionate love with Emilia, only to quickly desert her, leaving her lonely and angry. However, she loathes herself more for wanting and loving him even deeper after each departure.
...... While Daniel is away on one of his long term excursions, Emilia meets Antonio Zavalza, a physician who abhors violence. When Antonio opens up a local hospital, she joins his efforts to help the poor. Working side by side, the two doctors fall in love with each other. However, Emilia must choose between a man of peace offering to share a serene and professional future together or a man of war offering spurts of feverish love.
...... LOVESICK is a great work written in the Mexican form of historical fiction that will thrill readers who enjoy a novel written from a different perspective and writing style. Angeles Mastretta writes like an angel as she brings a unique, refreshing style to the genre. This reviewer strongly recommends this book and another tale by Ms. Mastretta, TEAR THIS HEART OUT, when it is translated into English.
.......Harriet Klausner